The Los Alamos Fire Department and police responded quickly to reports of flames on a hill just off North Road Monday afternoon. Eyewitness reports and evidence at the scene indicated the cause of the fire was manmade.

Tris DeRoma

Firefighters walk down a nearby hill just after putting out a small blaze that could have evolved into big trouble Monday. And Fire crews and LAFD Fire Marshal Brian Nickerson check out the area of the fire.

The LAFD suspects a group of teens seen in the immediate area by eyewitnesses were involved in causing the fire.

Firefighters arrived before it spread; it only left a 1 foot by 1 foot burn, said LAFD Fire Marshall Brian Nickerson, who was at the scene evaluating the damage with Police Cpl. Pat Massara. The fire happened around 4:30 p.m. and briefly blocked traffic as the department contained and investigated the incident.

Nickerson said this is the first time something like this has happened on North Road. He added, however, that there have been three or four incidents similar to this in the last three months.

Both Massara and Nickerson urged the public to help prevent incidents like this by keeping an eye on their children.

They noted that Los Alamos is currently under a Stage One restriction fire alert, which simply means one spark could start a widespread wildfire.

“Be aware of what’s going on with our terrain and surroundings,” Massara said. “The fuel threat is pretty high right now.”

Nickerson said the best thing parents can do right now is talk with their kids, and supervise them more closely.

“We are in a Stage One fire restriction now, and it’s only May 13. Events like this do not help,” he said.